330 THE HUNTING GROUNDS 



he and Veerapah, under the guidance of the party- 

 then in camp, had been to look for him, and whilst 

 they were following up his trail, and talking as they 

 went along, he made his appearance and charged 

 right at them, but that they had made their escape 

 by climbing into trees, where they remained until 

 he moved away. The Carders also knew of the 

 whereabouts of a herd at no very great distance 

 among the hills ; and they reported that bison were 

 to be found at any time in the teak-forests. Having 

 made up my mind to go after the solitary tusker, 

 whom I suspected to be a " rogue " that had been 

 driven out of a herd by his companions, from his 

 vicious attack on the people, I turned over and slept 

 until called by Chineah in the morning. 



A venison-steak broiled on the embers of our fire, 

 a cup of cofifee, and a couple of chapaties (girdle- 

 cakes made of rice-flour) formed our breakfast ; 



during which meal I informed B of Naga's 



news, as he had not heard it, being asleep at the 

 time. I then despatched Chineah, Veerapah, and a 

 party of Carders and Mulchers, for the bisons' skins 

 and horns, which they were to take down to our hut 

 in the low country, and there remain until our re- 

 turn. As there was only one elephant, according 

 to our usual custom in such cases, we tossed up for 



the " shot," and B won, as he generally managed 



to do ; after which we set out and followed the 

 course of the valley for about a mile, when we 

 entered a beautiful open forest of magnificent teak- 



